Central Floridians experienced extreme temperature variations in January 2020 with very warm daytime temperatures that reached as high as 86 degrees and overnight temperatures that dipped into the 30s and 40.
The monthly average temperature was a balmy 64 degrees – which was 6 degrees warmer than the average temperature in January 2019. The highest daily recorded temperature was 86 degrees and the lowest daily recorded temperature was 34 degrees. That’s a fluctuation of 52 degrees between hot and cold so most likely both cooling and heating units ran in January.
January 2020’s average high temperature was 74 degrees with an average low of 54. In Janaury 2019, the average high temperature was 69 degrees while the average low temperature was 47 degrees.
January 2020 low temperatures were so cold that frozen iguanas in Florida became a common sight. Locally we enjoyed 9 days of high temperatures over 80 degrees in Janaury 2020 and 11 days of low temps in the 30s and 40s. Rainfall for the month was lower than average at only .46 inches. Rainfall for January 2019 was much higher than 2020 at 3.02 inches.
Members who used heat during the colder mornings and cooling in the warmer afternoons can expect to see an increase in energy consumption on their January billing statement. ENERGY STAR recommends setting your heat to no higher than 68 degrees during the winter months.
Have you scheduled an annual HVAC service? January and February are typically the coldest months in Florida. A well-maintained unit runs more efficiently and helps lower your energy usage. Read more about HVAC service and maintenance in November SECO News.
February 2020 forecast:
February 2020 is forecast for an average high of 76 degrees most days in the month reaching temperatures in the mid-70s and 80s. The average low is forecast at 56 degrees with low temperatures dipping into the 40s and 50s. Precipitation levels are forecast to be low with the best chance for rain early in the month.
To check historical usage, log into SmartHub to view past bills and consumption charts. If your usage is high, SECO offers several energy-efficiency tools to help you identify energy wasters. Take the Home Energy Assessment to receive a detailed email tailored to your home’s features and lifestyle. The energy-saving advice will provide low-cost ways to decrease your usage – and your electric bill.
To easily calculate how much energy your appliances, lighting, electronic devices, and other energy-using items in your home consume, use the Energy Estimator.
Swallow-tailed kites are easily recognizable with their black and white plumage and deeply forked tails. Males and females are similar in appearance, size and weight. An average swallow-tailed kite’s body measures 20 to 27 inches and weighs 11 to 21 ounces. This kite’s impressive wingspan measures 3.7 to 4.5 feet.
Swallow-tailed kites are migratory raptors. In the spring, it travels from Central and South America to Florida to breed. Wetland forests are the kite’s preferred nesting grounds. Kites build nests in loblolly pine or bald cypress trees. Their diet includes insects and small animals, including frogs, anoles and snakes.
Historically, kites could be found as far north as Minnesota. In the U.S., kites are found mostly in Florida with small numbers in other southeastern states. Swallow-tailed kites are not listed as endangered or threatened by the federal government. The species’ greatest threat is habitat destruction. The future of swallow-tailed kites depends on the protection of lowland forests throughout its breeding range.
SECO Energy’s Engineering department recently embarked on a solar and battery energy storage pilot project. If you travel County Road 470 near our Sumterville headquarters, you may have noticed the new 6,000-watt solar array installed just outside the fence on the southeast corner of our Sumterville substation.
The goal of the project is to learn more about solar arrays, battery storage and how battery-stored energy feeds back into our system. This knowledge will also prepare SECO employees assisting members who are interested in solar and battery storage investments at their homes or businesses.
We contracted with local solar array vendor Solar Trek to construct the 6,000-watt ground-mounted solar array and battery storage system. The panels are positioned to face south for maximum sun exposure.
The array was built to offset the utility-supplied power that is required to serve the load in the substation’s switchgear enclosure. You can see the solar array from the road, but the energy storage batteries are housed in a cabinet outside of the substation switchgear.
Solar systems – whether installed residentially or commercially – produce energy from the sun in the form of direct current (DC). Inverters are installed on each solar panel to convert the DC power produced by the panels to alternating current (AC) that is usable in homes and businesses.
The solar panels will produce an anticipated average of 25 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day or approximately 750 kWh per month. Each panel is connected to a micro-inverter that maximizes efficiency by converting DC to AC power at the panel. The battery storage is configured for charge by the solar system.
This stored energy is released onto SECO’s electric system twice per day, at 9 a.m. and before 6 p.m.
The pilot project offers a variety of data for SECO’s Engineering staff to collect and study. SECO will measure the amount of AC power produced by the panels and the amount of energy the battery inverters will use to convert AC to DC then back to AC voltage. Also, SECO will assess the amount of energy required to charge the batteries and how much energy the battery inverter uses to convert DC to AC voltage.
Ultimately, we will monitor the collected data to compare the costs and benefits of energy storage and the impact of possible investments in future large-scale solar enterprises.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
SECO Champion – Surgeo The Surge MitiGator™
Length of Warranty: 15 Years
Power surges are sudden, powerful increases in voltage that can damage or destroy household appliances and sensitive electronics. The common cause of power surges is lightning, but small animals, trees, birds or vehicles crashing into SECO Energy poles or lines also cause surges.
For just pennies a day, SECO’s Surge MitiGator™ helps take the bite out of damaging power surges and spikes that can occur at your home. The Surge MitiGator™ is installed at the electric meter to help prevent high voltage spikes and surges from entering your home and sending voltage into your large appliances.
Sign up online before March 31 and receive $25 off installation. Lease the Surge MitiGator™ for only $5.95 per month plus tax with free installation for 200-amp residential services. For services over 200 amps, installation is reduced to $75. Or you can purchase the protection for $349 to $399 with free installation for online enrollments.
This valuable protection is “Made in the USA” and includes a beastly warranty. Sign up for the Surge MitiGator™ protection online to receive $25 off installation.
Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF LOVE! Are you planning a wedding? The Old Farmer’s Almanac has chosen the best days to get married in February 2020 are 12th and 13th just in time for Valentine’s Day on the 14th. Take your new spouse on a honeymoon camping trip on the 16th and 17th. Thinking of buying a new home? The best days to buy are the 2nd and the 7th. If you are selling a home, the best days to sell are the 28th and 29th. The best days to ask for a loan are the 11th and the 15th.
Area Light Out?
SECO Energy’s online StormCenter outage reporting and communications platform also includes LightFinder – our easy, convenient area light outage reporting tool. Use LightFinder to report area light malfunctions including a light outage, a day burner, flickering light or another issue.
LightFinder is available 24/7 at SECOEnergy.com > StormCenter. Choose the LightFinder tile. In the search bar, find the area light by entering the pole number or near address to locate. An icon represents each SECO-served area light. Click on the icon to report the light malfunction. Review the light’s details and add comments if needed. Include your email address in the submission to receive updates about the light’s repair status.
A green light icon indicates there is no known area light issue. When an area light trouble ticket is issued, the icon turns red. Lights represented by an orange icon have been repaired in the last 24 hours. Member-owned lights are shown as a blue icon and inactive lights are indicated by a gray icon.
SECO repairs most area light issues in less than 24 hours.
Energy Estimator
Are you interested in determining the energy use per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of the electronics and appliances in your home? Our online Energy Estimator calculates the amount of energy and associated cost.
With spring around the corner, are you thinking of adding a new hot tub, buying an electric golf cart/car or building a new swimming pool? Use the Energy Estimator for an estimate of how your energy usage and costs may change.
To use the Estimator, gather information about your home’s electronics’ wattage and hours per day usage. Don’t forget about water heating, refrigeration, laundry, cooking, lighting and miscellaneous electronics. The Energy Estimator will break down the energy costs for each item annually and monthly. Calculations are based on 1,000 kWh usage with SECO’s current Power Cost Adjustment (PCA/Hot Bucks) credit applied.
Explore the Energy Estimator tool online. Input the wattage and daily hours used for each electronic and appliance in your home. To receive energy-savings suggestions via email, provide your email address and submit.
SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan was named the Business Man of the Year by the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce at its Around the World Annual Dinner and Awards Gala on Friday, January 17. The Awards Gala was held at The Villages’ Savannah Center to celebrate outstanding businesses and individuals in Sumter County.
According to its website, the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce is the only chamber of commerce serving Sumter County businesses for over 91 years. The Chamber has grown along with the county, but its commitment to Sumter County businesses is unchanged. The Sumter County Chamber’s mission is to educate, support and promote businesses in Sumter County.
SECO Energy is a Diamond-level Chamber sponsor and a long-time Sumter County Chamber of Commerce member. The not-for-profit electric cooperative was established as Sumter Electric Cooperative, Inc. in 1938 with its headquarters in Sumter County. Now doing business as SECO Energy, the cooperative continues to support the Chamber’s efforts in fostering a healthy business climate in Sumter County.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Thank you to the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce for recognizing me as Business Man of the Year. This is truly an honor and I am humbled by the recognition. SECO Energy’s employees and their dedication to our members and the communities we serve are the backbone of our success. SECO’s roots are firmly planted in Sumter County, and we are proud of our partnership with the Chamber. With the Chamber’s support, commerce is flourishing in our area.”
Duncan continued, “SECO is privileged to be a part of Sumter County’s community, its history and growth and its future. Congratulations to all of my fellow awardees recognized by the chamber who work diligently to ensure the County’s success.”
The 2019 awardees recognized by the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce include Primus Pipe & Tube – Outstanding Large Business of the Year; Beth Hunt, Community Outreach Coordinator – Chamber Volunteer of the Year; Mary Beth Locke, Back Road Berries – Business Woman of the Year; Allstate Insurance, The McDonald Agency – Outstanding Small Business; and the Wildwood Rotary – Outstanding Non-profit of the Year.
SECO Energy Key Accounts Consultant Jeff Light led the invocation and held a moment of silence for the loss of Chamber member and community business leader Mike Scott. Light was also sworn in as a Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Board Member by the Honorable Judge Militello.
“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
SECO Energy is kicking off its 2020 SECO Scholarship Program. For over two decades, SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees has renewed its commitment to members and the communities the cooperative serves by approving the Scholarship Program for local students. A total of $36,000 is available for 12 recipients to receive $3,000 each.
SECO Energy is adjusting the eligibility requirements for the 2020 Scholarship Program to better align with its corporate goals. SECO believes its annual scholarships are a way to spark an interest in energy industry careers and should be used as a recruitment tool.
To be eligible to apply, the student must be interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. The student must live in a home served by SECO and be a high school senior who is graduating this school year (May/June). Awardees must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school located in Florida by the end of 2020. Students should also be pursuing a degree in technology, engineering, math or business. The student may also pursue a certification directly related to jobs in the electric industry.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “The goal for our 2020 Scholarship Program is to attract local students who want to come to SECO for internship opportunities during breaks and begin their careers with us after graduation. Our Scholarship Program embraces two of the seven cooperative principles observed by SECO: Concern for Community and Education, Training and Information. I wish our applicants the best and look forward to meeting our scholarship winners at the awards banquet in May.”
Scholarship applications are available online. For those without internet access, applications are also available at SECO’s Member Services Centers. The application must be completed in full and received in our corporate offices on or before 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2020. Email Communications for questions about the scholarship eligibility requirements or application.
View a slideshow of past scholarship awardees, print an application and read more about eligibility requirements on our Scholarship page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
SECO Energy members have rated the not-for-profit electric cooperative as a customer satisfaction leader. SECO received an American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) score of 90 for 2019. SECO’s 90 is a one-point increase from its 2018 score.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index provides a one-of-a-kind, cross-industry measurement of customer satisfaction in the United States. Each year, the ACSI uses data from interviews with roughly 300,000 customers as inputs to an econometric model for analyzing customer satisfaction with more than 400 companies in 46 industries and 10 economic sectors. ACSI data has proven to be strongly related to several essential indicators of micro and macroeconomic performance.
At the end of 2019, NRECA Market Research Services conducted the membership survey on SECO Energy’s behalf that included the ACSI metrics at year end and contacted members by email to ask about their unique experience with the cooperative. Members rated SECO with an impressive ACSI score of 90.
SECO Energy’s ACSI score is tops when compared to average ACSI scores in the energy industry. Nationally, cooperative utilities averaged 75 in 2019, which is 2 points lower than the 2018 cooperative average. Investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities scores averaged 73, both of which are 2 points lower than the 2018 average.
In the 2019 membership survey, members scored SECO well in all 18 service attributes with 16 rated as “excellent.” The highest rated were employees, bills and payment options, minimizing outages and community support. A service attribute that increased significantly is “Keeping members informed on the status of outages.” The increase in this particular attribute can be attributed to SECO’s online outage and communications platform StormCenter that communicates outage alerts with enrolled members via email, text or voice notifications.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO Energy excels in customer satisfaction. When comparing our 2019 ACSI score of 90 to our industry peers and Fortune 500 companies, SECO is clearly a satisfaction frontrunner. One of the reasons members have rated SECO so well over the years is our world-class employees. We are customer service champions because of our employees’ dedication to member satisfaction and their commitment to local communities.”
Duncan added, “Thank you, members, for taking the time to respond and recognizing our employees’ efforts on your behalf. We are grateful for your approval and continued support.”
In recent years, SECO Energy has received national attention and three J.D. Power trophies for its exceptional customer satisfaction rankings. In the 2015 J.D. Power study, SECO Energy was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Midsize Utilities in the South.” And in 2016 and 2017, SECO was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Cooperatives.”
“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Learn more about SECO Energy.
Central Florida didn’t see a White Christmas in December 2019. The temperatures were warm even by Central Florida standards. The monthly average temperature was a mild 66 degrees – which was 4 degrees warmer than the average temperature in December 2018. The highest daily recorded temperature was 85 degrees and the lowest daily recorded temperature was 41 degrees. That’s a fluctuation of 44 degrees between hot and cold so most likely both cooling and heating units ran in December.
December 2019’s average high temperature was 76 degrees with an average low temperature of 57 degrees. In December 2018, the average high temperature was 71 degrees while the average low temperature was 53 degrees.
Families who were visiting for the holidays from colder areas were pleased with the warm temperatures. Locally we enjoyed 11 days of high temperatures over 80 degrees in December 2019. Rainfall for the month was higher than last month at 3.67 inches. Rainfall for December 2018 was higher than 2019 at 5.55 inches.
While parts of the U.S. were blanketed in snow, Central Florida’s early morning temperatures were in the mid to high forties. If you had visiting family and friends, the afternoon highs and extra visitors probably required extra HVAC cooling. Members who used heat during the colder mornings and cooling in the warmer afternoons can expect to see an increase in energy consumption on their December billing statement. ENERGY STAR recommends setting your heat to no higher than 68 degrees during the winter months.
Have you scheduled an annual HVAC service? January and February are typically the coldest months in Florida. A well-maintained unit runs more efficiently and helps lower your energy usage. Read more about HVAC service and maintenance in November SECO News.
January 2020 forecast:
January 2020 is forecast for an average high of 75 degrees with high temperatures reaching the low 80s. The average low is forecast at 56 degrees with 14 or 15 days dropping into the 40s. Precipitation levels are forecast to be low with the best chance for rain in the middle of the month.
To check historical usage, log into SmartHub to view past bills and consumption charts. If your usage is high, SECO offers several energy-efficiency tools to help you identify energy wasters. Take the Home Energy Assessment to receive a detailed email tailored to your home’s features and lifestyle. The energy-saving advice will provide low-cost ways to decrease your usage – and your electric bill.
To easily calculate how much energy your appliances, lighting, electronic devices, and other energy-using items in your home consume, use the Energy Estimator.
The Florida manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is a slow-moving aquatic animal with an elongated round body that tapers to a flat paddle-shaped tail. Its two forelimbs, each with three or four nails, are called flippers. The manatee’s head and face are wrinkled with whiskers on its snout.
Adult manatees weigh between 800 and 1,200 pounds and grow to 10 feet in length. It eats a variety of plants and can consume 10 to 15 percent of its body weight in vegetation daily. It surfaces every 3 to 5 minutes to breathe but can remain underwater up to 20 minutes.
Female manatees give birth once every 2 to 5 years after a gestation period of 13 months. At birth, calves weigh an average of 60 pounds and are nursed for 1 to 2 years. Found in fresh or saltwater, manatees move into Florida’s warm waters and are sited in shallow areas from November 15 to March 31.
It is illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill manatees. Manatees have no natural predators, but its slow- moving speeds put it at risk of being injured or killed by fast-moving boat propellers. Manatees are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act.
This year we are adjusting the eligibility requirements to better align with our corporate goals. The focus of the scholarship program is shifting to a recruitment tool to spark an interest in energy industry careers. Our goal is to attract local students who want to come to SECO Energy for internship opportunities during breaks and begin their careers with us after graduation.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that almost 2 million people are employed in jobs related to electric power generation and fuels. In that group, nearly half a million people are employed in jobs directly related to electric power generation, transmission and distribution.
The DOE also reports the number of jobs in the energy sector is increasing – thus the demand for a skilled workforce follows. New careers are evolving that focus on renewable energy, natural gas and information and communications technology. But the energy industry workforce is aging. Almost thirty percent of energy industry employees are on the cusp of retirement or between the ages of 51 and 60. Furthermore, thirty-three percent of energy industry workers are between the ages of 41 and 50.
An aging workforce and the need for employees interested in highly-skilled careers in the energy industry are driving the eligibility change in SECO’s 2020 Scholarship Program.
To be eligible to apply, the student must be interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. The student must be a graduating senior who lives in a home served by SECO Energy. Awardees must be enrolled full-time in an accredited Florida college, university or vocational/ technical school by the end of 2020. Students should also be pursuing a degree or certification in technology, engineering, math or business.
Applications are available beginning January 2, 2020 online. For those without Internet access, applications are also available in all Member Service Centers. The application must be received in our corporate offices on or before Friday, March 27, 2020.
If you have questions about the scholarship program, email Communications. Or you can call and visit with Eneida Robaina in the Corporate Communications group. Eneida manages the scholarship program and is also this month’s SECO Champion. Read about her next and watch her video on YouTube.
In addition to transforming into a viable recruiting tool, our Scholarship Program embraces two of the seven cooperative principles observed by SECO: Concern for Community and Education, Training and Information. I wish our applicants the best and look forward to meeting our scholarship winners at the awards banquet on May 18, 2020.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
SECO Champion – Eneida Robaina
Length of Service: 10 Years
“MY FAMILY IS SUPPORTIVE WHEN DUTY CALLS.” Eneida Robaina is a Senior Staff Assistant in Corporate Communications. Eneida also coordinates SECO’s Scholarship Program and has implemented the program changes to cultivate our future workforce. Eneida organizes the applications, answers scholarship inquiries and arranges the yearly awards banquet for recipients and their families.
Eneida moved to Sumterville from South Florida in 2001 with her family. She is a world traveler and also enjoys spending weekends on the family boat. Her family is understanding when Eneida works long hours or overnights in her role in the Emergency Restoration Plan during major weather events like Hurricane Irma. Eneida believes she is incredibly fortunate to work at SECO and is proud to represent a utility that truly puts its members first. Eneida is a SECO employee and a member, too.
Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Many of us ring in the new year with a list of resolutions. The Old Farmer’s Almanac offers guidance on the best date in January 2020 to begin some of the most popular resolutions. The best day to quit smoking is January 6 or 11. Best day to color your hair on January 4 – 6, straighten your hair is January 20 or 21 or wait until January 24 – 26 for a new perm. Start your diet on January 14 or 19 and travel for pleasure on January 11 or 12 – before starting your New Year diet!
Winter Heating – Wood-Burning Fireplaces
During winter months, will a wood-burning fireplace heat your home more efficiently than your HVAC unit? SECO’s Energy Services experts report it’s not likely.
A wood-burning fireplace pulls oxygen and heat from other areas in your home. As much as 30 percent of that heat goes up the chimney creating a drop in your home’s temperature. When the temperature drops, your HVAC unit cycles more frequently.
To increase fireplace efficiency, consider installing glass doors or a fireback. Doors will serve as a barrier that reduces the amount of warm indoor air that escapes through the chimney. In the summer, glass doors will help prevent warm outside air from entering your home through the chimney. A fireback is an iron or steel often decorative plate that is installed at the back of the fireplace. Not only does this protect the fireplace masonry, it absorbs the heat and reflects it into the room.
Your best bet for fireplace energy efficiency is to not use the fireplace in conjunction with your HVAC unit. The glow from a wood-burning fire adds a lovely ambiance to a room and is perfect for times when it is only a little chilly.
Safety Corner – Kids’ Electrical Safety Tips
Children are innately curious and enjoy learning about the word they live in. Teach children and grandchildren to be cautious around energized equipment inside and outside the home.
Install outlet protectors in rooms where children can reach electrical outlets. Children and adults can be shocked or injured by placing foreign objects in outlets. Teach children to never operate appliances without a responsible adult present. Water and electricity don’t mix – never place electronics near water.
Inspect trees where children are playing to ensure that branches are far away from overhead power lines. Do not let children climb trees growing close to electric lines. Never touch outdoor wires with any part of your body, toys or other objects. Keep kites, balloons, drones and toy planes away from poles and wires. Children should never be allowed to play near substations or underground transformers.
Find more electrical safety tips on our electrical safety page.
SECO Energy’s generous employees are Making a Difference at Christmas by donating hundreds of toys for its annual Marine Toys for Tots donation drive. Members also joined in the gift-giving by adding toys to the donation boxes at SECO’s five Member Service Center locations.
SECO employees’ and members’ donations provide toys and smiles for local children on Christmas day. The toys donated through Toys for Tots remain in the community where they are donated. For many local children, a toy donated through the generosity of SECO employees and members will be the only present received for Christmas.
Among the hundreds of toys were 75 bicycles and tricycles donated by SECO employees. SECO’s Pennies from Heaven program chipped in this year to purchase bicycles and tricycles to match the number donated by SECO employees. In all, over 140 local children will receive a new bicycle or tricycle courtesy of SECO employees and members who participate in Pennies from Heaven.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO employees are a charitable group and they especially enjoy contributions that benefit the communities we serve. As a fellow marine, I’m proud of the Marine Toys for Tots organization whose volunteers work tirelessly to bring joy to children at Christmas. I am grateful to our generous employees and members who are willing to share their Christmas spirit with others.”
Senior Consultant for Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs Kathy Judkins manages the Toys for Tots donation drive companywide. Judkins stated, “I am so thankful for the hundreds of employees and many SECO members who chose to join SECO in supporting Toys for Tots this year. Making a Difference at Christmas brings happiness to children across our service area.”
Members who want to partner with SECO Energy to improve quality of life in local communities served by SECO can enroll in the Pennies from Heaven program that rounds up monthly bills to the nearest dollar. The small change donated through Pennies from Heaven supports financial assistance to local worthy causes in SECO’s service area. Requests for Angel Fund bill payment assistance are administered through several local agencies by calling 211 or visiting 211 online.
Watch a slide show of donated toys from SECO’s Toys for Tots toy drive photos on SECO’s YouTube channel. Learn more about SECO Energy’s community involvement online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
